Flushing-tank



{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. E. BOYLE.

FLUSHING TANK. No. 439,630. Patented Nov. 4., 1890.

I IIIII INVENTOR: WlTNESSESi mm 12.; Q, By his Attorneys.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 21 J. E. BOYLE.

FLUSHING TANK.

No. 439,630. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

INVENTOR'I WITNESSES I I C MM By kzs Azzumeys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JAMES E. BOYLE, OF BROOKLYN, vNEW YORK.

FLUSHlNG-TANK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,630, dated November 4, 1890.

Application filed May 25, 1887. Serial No. 239,279. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tanks or cis erns for flushing water-closets or other devices and to self-closing valves therefor. The tank is designed especially for use with pneumatic or double-trapped siphon-closets, although applicable also to closets of ordinary types.

Various constructions of valves have heretofore been devised which when once opened will remain open for a predetermined, time or until a predetermined quantity of water has passed through. My invention provides an improved valve of this character. The valve is counterweighted by a cup or other receptacle having a closed bottom, which is filled with water, and immersed in the water of the tank, so that when the valve is raised and the descent of the water-level in the tank leaves the cup partly out of water its weight acts to retain the valve open until the water contained in it has so far leaked out through a small opening provided for that purpose in the bottom of the cup that the weight becomes insufficient to uphold the valve, and the latter thereupon seats itself.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section on the line 1 1 in Fig. 3, showing a pneumatic fiushingtank constructed according to one of the preferred forms of my invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan of the tank, partly in horizontal section, in the plane of the liner?) 3 in Fig. 1. Fig.4 includes a fragmentary vertical section of the counterbalance-cup and a bottom plan thereof. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of the operative parts, looking in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig. 3, and showing the parts during the operation of the tank. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section of a vacuum-tank of different construction. Fig. 8 is a similar view of another construction of vacuum-tank. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a flushing-tank for commontypos of water-closets or for urinalsand the like, and, Fig. 10 is a similar section of a further modified construction of tank.

Let A designate the reservoir, tank, or cistern, which may be made of wood and lined with sheet copper or lead, as indicated in Figs. 1 to 3, or of cast-iron or other metal or material, as indicated in Figs. 7 to 9.

B is the outlet-valve; O,the flushing-pipe D,

the air-pipe or suction-pipe; E,the operatinglever; F, the float-valve; G, the ball or float thereof, and H the water-service pipe. The flushing-pipe C leads from the outlet of the tank down to the water-closet bowl and there connects with the flushing-rim thereof. The air-pipe D leads down to the air-space between the two traps of asiphon or pneumatic closet, such as shown in my patents, No. 255,485, dated March 28, 1882, and No. 291,1Al0, dated January 1,1884,Fig. 1. The operating lever E is manipulated by means of a pull through the medium of a chain or Wire a, connected to it, and on the opposite side of the fulcrum the lever is counterweighted, and is connected to the valve B through the medium of a stem b, which is preferably connected freely to the valve by a swivehjoint, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with adj usting-nuts where it passes through the end of the lever, all as usual. The lever E is fulcrumed to the standard 0, fastened on a board I, which is fixed on the top of the tank. These details of construction are preferable but not essential, as any ordinary or known suitable construction of the respective parts will answer.

To the under side of the board I afulcrum hearing or frame (1 is fastened, and to this frame is hung a balance-lever J. One end of this lever is connected to the stem 1) by any suitable articulation, and from its opposite end is hung-the counterweight cup or receptacle K. This cup is preferably arranged at such a height that its top stands normally just above the water-level in the tank, although this is not essential. In the bottom of the cup is a small opening or leak-orifice e, the area of which is adj ustahle in any suitable way, preferably by means of a slide or register f, which is pivoted on a rivet or screw g and comes against the bottom of the cup,

so that it may be moved or turned laterally the usual level, as determined by the floatvalve, and the water stands in the cup K to the same level, as shown in Fig. 1. On pulling the lever E the valve B is lifted and the lever J is tilted, so that the cup is caused to descend. If it was not previously full, it he comes thus filled by being plunged below the water-level. Upon opening the valve B the water commences immediately to run out down the flushing-pipe, and during the instant that the lever E is held tilted the water-level falls sufiiciently to leave the cup K partly out of water. The lever must be held until the portion of the cup thus exposed with its contained water weighs as much as or more than the valve B with its stem. This takes place almost instantly, so that the lever E may be at once released. Upon the falling back of the lever E the valve B then remains upheld by the lever J, as shown in Fig. 5. The water meanwhile is flowing out of the cup K through the opening 6; but the descent of the water-level in the tank is much more rapid, and very soon leaves the cup eutirely out of water, as shown in Fig. 6. The water continues to flow out of the cup until the weight of the latter is so reduced that it no longer sutfices to counterbalance the valve B, whereupon the latter seats itself. Fig. 6 shows the parts while the valve is closing. The tank is then refilled by water admitted through the float-valve. At the same time the cup K is refilled by water flowing up into it through the opening a. In case the tank should be operated a second time before being entirely refilled by the float-valve, the flush would be shortened,because at starting the cup K would contain less water, which would run out in less time. By adjusting the size of the opening e in the cup the duration of the flush may be regulated to a nicety. If the area of this opening is enlaiged, the water will escape more rapidly from the cup and the valve will be sooner seated, while if the opening be contracted the water will escape from the cup more slowly and the flush will be prolonged.

The cup may be variously proportioned to adapt the device to dilterent conditions. If made wide and shallow, it will be the quicker left out of water by the descent of the water in the tank when the valve is first opened. If made narrow and deep, it will be more gradually exposed above the descending water-level. A deep cup will also act if the le ver be pulled when the tank is but partly full, if only there be suflicient weight of water in the cup to overweight the valve.

The tank shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is a pneumatic tank operating on the principle disclosed in my reissued patent, No. 10,826, dated April19, 1887. In Fig. 4 of that patent,which shows the construction most nearly approaching my present invention, I have illustrated a pneumatic tank the valve of which is self-seating. The tank is constructed with a service-box L beneath it, into which the water flows upon the openingof the valve B. The flushing-pipe 0 leads from this service-box, an injector or trombe T being inserted in this pipe or interposed between it and the outlet from the service-box, so that the water in running out of the latter down the pipe will fall through the trombe and create a suction by carrying air down with it. The air thus sucked in is drawn from the airpipe D through the medium of a connectingpassage M. This passage is formed by an arrangementof tubes. (Bestshown in Fig. 2.) The service-box L is extended upwardly at one corner of the tank (or in other convenient place) by a partition or bulk-head L, which extends above the water-level and constitutes the overflow, and the air-pipe D extends up within this bulk-head and terminates near the top of the tank. Around the air-pipe is a tube 70, the lower end of which enters a casting N, which is screwed to the bottom of the tank. This casting forms the injector T, and has a passage formed through it leading thence to the tube It. This passage and the space between the pipe D and the tube 75 constitute the passage M for connecting the injector to the air-pipe. An airbell m, consisting of a tube closed at its top, is placed over the air-pipe D and tube It, and its bottom comes down within a short distance of the bottom of the service-box.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the valve B is raised, the water from the tank A flows rapidly into the serviee-box and pro ceeds to flow out through the injector and down the flushing-pipe; but as the area of the valve-seat is considerably larger than that of the injector the water enters the service-box faster than it flows out therefrom, and its level in the service-box quickly rises until it seals the lower end of the air-bell m. The pneumatic action then commences. The suction created by the injector draws air from the passage M, from the air-pipe D, and from the space between the traps in the closet beneath. The partial vacuum thus created siphons the bowl, and also causes the water to pass up within the air-bell m and pass with the air down the flushing-pipe. The airbell 1n and tube thus constitute a siphon for emptying the service-box. The operation thus continues until the water-level in the service-box falls below the bottom of the air-bell, whereupon air enters the latter and breaks the Vacuum therein and in the passage M and air-pipe D, and the siphonic action ceases. The remaining water then flows quietly down the flushing-pipe without producing any pneumatic effect, and constitutes the afterwash for refilling the bowl. he valve B will have closed itself either before or after the breaking of the vacuum, as the case may be. The operation does not differ, essentially, from that of the tank shown in Fig. 4 of my said reissued patent.

My present invention involves one improvement on the construction shown in that patcut-namely, in the construction and mounting of the air-bell. In that patent the bell is rigidly mounted. Inowmount it on a spring 8, so that it may have a limited vertical move ment. When not in action, it stands, as shown in Fig. 2, pressed up by the spring into contact with the board I, (or other suitable stop;) but when the tank is operated and its bottom is sealed by the water the siphonic action draws it down a short distance and holds it there until the vacuum is broken by the unsealing of its bottom, whereupon it springs up to its normal position again. This insures the instantaneous breaking of the vacuum and prevents any gurgling noise when the bell is unsealed.

lVly present invention may be applied to pneumatic tanks wherein the partial vacuum is formed by the running out of water from a hermetic vacuum-chamber, such as is shown in my said patent, No. 255,485. Figs. 7 and 8 show tanks of that character constructed according to my present invention. The tanks shown in these figures are singlecharge tanks, or those which empty themselves each time the closet is fiushed. The parts already described, which are shown in these figures, are designated by the same letters as in the preceding figures. The tank A has no service-box beneath it but a portion of it is divided off to form a vacuum-chamber letteredV,-in the upper part of which the airpipe D terminates. In Fig. 7 this chamber is formed by inserting in one end of the tank an inverted box or air-bell P, the sides of which rest on the bottom of the tank and are sealed by the water therein, but are notched at the bottom to provide openings for admitting the passage of water beneath them, as at 'n. The valve-stem 1) passes out through a hole 0 in the top of the box P, which may be provided with a loose washer p, through which the stem passes freely. This washer constitutes a check-valve to admit the escape of air from the vacuum-chamber but prevent almost entirely the entrance of air thereto. The lever J and cup K are arranged within the vacuum-chamber. On pulling the lever E the valve B is opened and the water flows out down the flushing-pipe. The descent of the waterin the vacnum-chamberleaves a partial vacuum above it, which draws air from the air-pipe and siphons the bowl. When the water has nearly all run out from the tanks, itunseals the box P at n and admits air to the vacuum-chamber to-break the vacuum. The afterwash then takes place, the water which then remains in the tank and that which enters by the float-valve running out to'refill the bowl. The area of the outlet-opening e in the cup K should be so proportionedas to cause the valve to remain open until the after- Wash has continued for a sufficient time to insure the refilling of the bowl, whereupon the valve closes and the tank isrefilled ready for the next operation. v

In Fig. 8 the vacuum-chamber is formed by a bulk-head or partition Q and a cover or top plate R, which is fastened on the top of the tank with a suitable packing interposed to make a hermetic joint. The valve-stem 1) passes freely through a tube g, which projects downwardly from the top plate into the vacuum-chamber, leaving room beneath it to permit the valve to lift. The cup K is arranged in the portion of the tank exterior to the vacuum-chamber, and its lever J is arranged above the plate R. During the flushing the vacuum is broken by the unsealing of the tube q, so that the outflow occuring from that time until the valve closes constitutes the afterwash.

My invention is applicable to ordinary tanks for flushing hopper, pan, and washout closets, as well as to pneumatic tanks. Fig. 9 illustrates such a tank. There is no servicebox, injector, air-bell, or vacuum -chamber. The lever E is connected to the valve B through 'a chain 19, which constitutes the equivalent of a valve stem. The lever J, from which the cup K is hung, engages this chain 1). The operation is the same as already described.

Fig. 10 shows another tank for ordinary closets. The valve B is here mounted on one end of a lever J, which is fulcrumed in a frame 61, fastened to the bottom of the tank, and the cup K is fixed to the other end thereof. The lever E connects with the valve through the medium of a chain 1).

It is essential to the operativeness of my invention that the cup K be placed in atank or compartment which is emptied or partially emptied at each operation of the tank and refilled before the next operation, in order that the water-level may at first fall and leave a part of the cup out of Water, and that the water may subsequently leak from the cup or from its unimmersed portion, and thereby reduce its weight untilinsufficient to sustain the valve.

The tanks shown in Figs. 1 to 9 are singlecharge tanks, which are designed to entirely empty themselves at each flush.

The tank shown in Fig. 10 is divided by a partition Q into two parts-a reservoir-compartment U, in which is the float-valve, and a service box or compartment W, in which are the cup K and valve B. The Water enters the service-compartment through a small orifice t at the bottom of the partition. At each operation the compartment U is emptied, or nearly so, and is subsequently refilled from the reservoir-compartment. If the supply is temporarily out off, thewater remaining in the reservoir-compartment will suffice for one or more additional flushes, if time be given for it to flow through the orifice t.

The mechanical adjuncts of may be modified in many y the apparatus ways or substituted equivalent devices. For example, any

means for originally lifting the valve B may be substituted for the lever Eand pull.

I am aware that it has been proposed to hold a valve open by a submerged counterweight hung from one arm of a balance-lever, the other arm of which is connected to the valve. In the construction referred to the counter-weight consists of a cup or bell lighter than the valve and having a vent or small leak-openin g. The balance-lever is fulcrumed to or hung from the pull-lever, so that when the latter is pulled it does not act directly to lift the outlet-valve, as in my construction, but to lift the counter-weight until a sufiicient mass of water is lifted by it to overweight the valve, whereupon the latter is unseated. The flush continues until the pulllever is released or until by the leakage of water from the counterweight-cup its weight is so reduced that it no longer outweights the valve. \Vhen the counter-weight is thus lightened, the further pulling of the pull-lever will not lift the valve, but will only raise the counter-weight.

My improved construction differs from that just described, in that by it the valve is held open after the pull is released, so that my tank is designed to give a measured and uniform flush, instead of being a mere Waterwaste preventer, and, further, the pull-lever is connected positively to the outlet-valve, so that the latter is opened whenever the lever is pulled, whereby the tank is not rendered inoperative by the sticking of the valve to its seat, as would result in the prior construction.

The construction referred to has not been brought into use, so far as I am aware, and is, I believe, an impracticable one. I have referred to it solely because it operates to some extent on the same principle as my invention, in so far as it has a submerged counter-weight acting to hold the valve lifted.

I claim as my invention the following defined novel features or combinations, substantially as hereinbefore specified, namely:

1. In afiushing-tank, the combination, with the outlet-valve and operating mechanism for unseating it, of means for holding it unseated during a predetermined outflow, consisting of a counterweight-cup or water-receptacle normally immersed in the water of the tank, connected to the valve through a balanced lever hung independently of said operating mechanism, whereby it is not affected by the release thereof, and having a closed bottom and an outlet-orifice, whereby on the lifting of the outlet-valve the outflowing water soon leaves a sufficient weight of said counterweight-cup out of the water to overbalance and uphold the valve, but subsequently upon the leaking of water from said cup its weight becomes insuflicient to uphold the valve and the latter seats itself.

2. In a flushing-tank, the combination, with the outlet-valve and a pull connected to it for positively unseating it, of means for holding it unseated, consisting of a counterweight-cup or water-receptacle normally immersed in the water of the tank, connected to the valve independently of said pull, whereby it is not affected by the release thereof, and having an outlet-orifice, whereby upon the opening of the valve the descent of the water-level in the tank first leaves sufiicient of the cup out of water to counterpoise the valve and the subsequent leaking of water from the cup eventually so reduces its weight that it becomes insufiicient to uphold the valve, whereupon the latter seats itself.

3. I11 a flushing-tank, the combination, with the outlet-valve and a pull connected to it by a connection which is unyielding in the direction of the pull, whereby the force applied to the pull is transmitted to the valve for positively unseating it, of means for holding it unseated, consisting of a balance-lever hung on a fulcrum independent of said pull, one arm of said lever connected to the valve, and a counterweight-cup or water receptacle connected to the opposite arm of said lever, having an outlet-orifice and arranged to be normally immersed in the water of the tank.

I. The combination of tank A,pull-lever E, outlet-valve l3, valve-stem I), connected to lever E, lever J, engaging said stem and hung on a fixed fulcrum, and cup or receptacle K, hung from said lever J within the tank and having an outlet-orifice.

5. In a pneumatic flushing-tank, the combination of a float-valve for supplying water thereto,a flushing-pipe leading therefrom, an outlet-valve opening from the tank to said pipe, operating mechanism for unseatin g said valve, means for holding it unseated, consisting of a counterweight-cup or water-receptacle connected to it and mounted independently of said operating mechanism, arranged to be normally immersed in the water of the tank and having an outlet-orifice, an air-pipe entering said tank, and an air-exhausting device connected with said pipe, as described.

6. In a pneumatic flushing-tank, the combination of a float-valve for supplying Water thereto, a flushing-pipe leading therefrom, a suction-injector in connection with said pipe and to be traversed by the descending flushing-Water, an air-pipe in connection with said injector, a flushing-valve controlling the outflow of water to the flushing-pipe, operating mechanism for unseating said valve, and means for holding the same unseated during one flush, consisting of a counterweight-cup for containing water, arranged to be normally immersed in the waterin the tank, connected to said valve and mounted independently of said operating mechanism and having an outlet-orifice.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. BOYLE.

Witnesses:

WM. H. HANNAM, GEORGE II. FRASER. 

